Curry's Chronicle explores life in Comstock Lode region

Authors re-create late 19th century connections

What life was like in the late 1800s in the Virginia City, Nev.,
area and the Comstock Lode is detailed by collectors Bruce Thayer and
Ryan Baum in the spring issue of Curry’s Chronicle, the
official journal of the Carson City Coin Collectors of America.

Thayer intertwines his account of a modern day trip to historic
Virginia City with a fictional short story about Seamus Mahoney — a
muleskinner trudging along the path from Carson City to Virginia City
in 1871. Baum also takes readers back in time, exploring the
connection between the beloved “CC” coins from the Carson City Mint
that collectors so cherish today, and the “Silver Kings” — John Mackay
in particular — who played such integral roles in their production.

In other articles, Weimar White writes about the desirability and
value of the 1890-CC Coronet gold $10 eagle. John Crane and Lane
Brunner share their experiences about two niches of Carson City Mint
coin collecting that lie outside conventional bounds: countermarked
coins and unusual coin slabs, respectively.

Crane, in the second contribution to his “Crane’s Carson Coin
Corner” column, writes about maverick countermarked coins — coins that
bear clear countermarks, but with no known person, business or
location association.

Brunner discusses Carson City Mint coins he has that were
certified by Accugrade and Compugrade. Although Brunner knows buying a
coin for its holder isn’t the traditional method, he’s found enjoyment
in it just the same, according to the author.

Alan Slakis contributes his experiences on his way to completing a
grading set of Professional Coin Grading Service certified 1879-CC
Morgan dollars, both with and without the “capped die” variety, from
Poor 1 to Mint State 66.

CCCCOA President Rusty Goe details the effort involved in
assembling a complete, 111-piece Carson City Mint set. In addition to
breaking down the number of top four (by piece-count) sets of Carson
City Mint coins that can be assembled, he explores and explains the
monumental efforts of both Louis E. Eliasberg Sr. and the collector
who built the “Battle Born Collection” — the only two people to have
successfully completed the 111-piece Carson City Mint coin set,
according to Goe.

Stack’s Bowers Galleries contributed a press release to the club
journal highlighting the upcoming sale of the Battle Born Collection.
According to Goe, the auction, which is scheduled for Aug. 9, is
destined to break price records and establish a new standard in the
Carson City Mint coinage series.

Annual dues for membership, which includes a three-issue
subscription to Curry’s Chronicle, cost $30. The CCCCOA’s
address is P.O. Box 18040, Reno, NV 89511. The website is at www.carsoncitycoinclub.com. ■

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.